by our College Data Analytics Team
[General](/majors/engineering/electrical-and-computer-engineering/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 45 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general degrees they offer, see the list below.
Rice University tops our 2026 list of the best value general schools in the United States. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,247. Typical student debt for general graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #2 place for general. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Typical student debt for general graduates is $16,481. Early-career general graduates make about $65,681. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #3 place for general. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Brigham Young University Provo one of the best values for general. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. General graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $54,507. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general will find it at Wichita State University, which ranked #5. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general graduates is $24,262. General graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $49,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
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Eastern Michigan University earned the #6 position for value in general this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for general graduates is $28,781. Early-career general graduates make about $47,887. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #7 for value in general this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, with out-of-state students paying around $19,265. Typical student debt for general graduates is $25,821. Early-career general graduates make about $54,235. Set against $25,821 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Suny College At Oswego landed the #8 spot for general value this year. Located in the town of Oswego, Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,825, while out-of-state students pay about $18,735. Typical student debt for general graduates is $25,163. General graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $41,899 early in their careers. Set against $25,163 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Oswego admits about 80% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University placed #9 among the best values for general. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the general program here. Early-career general graduates make about $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Suny At Albany earned the #10 position for value in general this year. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. General graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career general graduates make about $44,736. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Western Washington University came in at #11 for value in general this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Students borrow a median of $20,361 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $41,118. Set against $20,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #12 for value in general this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. General graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. General graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
California Baptist University landed the #13 spot for general value this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Typical student debt for general graduates is $28,169. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $51,999. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #14 spot for general value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Typical student debt for general graduates is $27,491. General graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California earned the #15 position for value in general this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $71,647. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete the general program here. Soon after graduation, general degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $75,677. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Baylor University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general schools. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. General graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. General graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $49,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
Explore the best-value general schools at other degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 45 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.